Bf 109K-4 - 9./JG53 - Lechfeld - May 1945

[Bruno]

The following is my version of a 9./JG 53 'Pik As' Bf 109K-4 'Weiß 16'. It was photographed in May '45 at Lechfeld in southern Germany.

The colors are

Uppercoats :RLM 83 'Grün'  and  RLM 81 'Braunviolett'

nose / cowl: RLM 75 'Grauviolett'

Undercoat: RLM 76 'Lichtblau'

All the tones were played with to get the look I wanted for AHs lighting conditions.

One note about RLM 83,

Different soucres list RLM 83 as 'Dunkelgrün'. Others list RLM 82 as 'Dunkelgrün' and RLM 82 as 'Lichtgrün'.

See Commentary on the Evolution and Usage of Luftwaffe RLM Colours 81, 82 & 83

From the above link:

Note: No official documents have been discovered which link RLM 83 with the colour name "Dunkelgrün". However, Hitchcock (1983, p.13) states: "Color 83 has been officially recorded as 'green.' " but fails to identify the source, date and context of this official record. The relationship of "83" to the descriptive name "Dunkelgrün" is interpretive, and based on photographs, crash reports, wreckage fragments, etc. (Smith and Creek, 1994, p.247; Smith and Gallaspy, 1977, pp.96, 100, 124-125, 129, 134, 13-137)).

Table 1 is clear in noting that the RLM's descriptive colour names for those discussed here were limited to a single RLM numeric designation, except one. From the data, the name "Dunkelgrün" was assigned to no less than four defined colours; first to RLM 71 in 1937 and later in 1944 to RLM 81, 82 and 83. There is no question that the RLM designated 71 as Dunkelgrün, but did it also do the same for the remaining three colours? Given the RLM's past history and actions, the evidence strongly suggests that it did not.

As such the tone of green I chose coul dbe either RLM 82 'Lichtgrün' or RlM 83 'Grün'. Whatever the case the tone of green in the below SS is lighter then the   'darker green' I used on G-14 skin I did from JG 53.

[Wmaker]

Looks great again!

One thing that came to mind was that 3D'ish oil stick cover. Since it was flush with the surface of the fuselage I'd give it more of a 2D look.

[Pooface]

very nice!

[Krusty]

Did they really have such a big, black, tail band?

[Bruno]

Did they really have such a big, black, tail band?

Yes...



The RV band in the scan above is shifted a bit aft . The image I used as my source shows the RV band stretching from panel line ot panel line so its a bit forward as compared to the scan above.


I am not going to scan the source image becasue of copyright concerns. However, for compariosns sake here are a couple profiles readily found opn the web:

[Bruno]

One thing that came to mind was that 3D'ish oil stick cover. Since it was flush with the surface of the fuselage I'd give it more of a 2D look.

Yeah I see that now. I missed it when I took the screenshots and have removed the 'shadowing'. Any other things you spot please let me know...

TIA

Wotan

[Wmaker]

Originally posted by Bruno
Any other things you spot please let me know...

A few more things...

- lower wing balken kreuzes were most probably the "narrow all black type"...they should be bigger in size too.

- the spinners spiral should be narrower and tighter (you hadn't got to it yet prolly?...check page 177 in Prien & Rodeike's book)

- opening for the MK-108 spent casings si missing

- fuel tanks filler opening should be just behind the cockpit (it was moved in K-series)

- the horisontal stabilizer was made from wood in K-series (I know this contradics the drawings found in the Lair...and knowing 109 production anything's possible but I'd make them wooden...ie. no rivet lines and those aluminum strips to the leading edges.)

- the small circular opening under the nose just after the spinner which vents the oil tank is missing

- there's one opening missing from the bottom of the fuselage just behind the wing (on the left side when viewed from the bottom)

- Opening for the crank of the inertia starter missing

- There's a seam missing from the bottom of the rear fuselage running accross it.

- Those ventilator intakes in front of the canopy weren't there anymore in the K-series

- according to that photo in the page 177 that cover which is situated near the inertia starter opening on the right side of the cowling which is normally found in K-series seems to be missing!

EDIT/Later I could scan you Mr. Klaus Niska's line drawing which shows how the wooden stabilizer looked like among other things./EDIT

[Bruno]

EDIT/Later I could scan you Mr. Klaus Niska's line drawing which shows how the wooden stabilizer looked like among other things./EDIT

Yeah that would be great. I had used the line drawing from 109 Lair...

Wotan AT wuergerstaffel.atspace DOT com

[Bruno]

lower wing balken kreuzes were most probably the "narrow all black type"...they should be bigger in size too.

Ok changed...

- the spinners spiral should be narrower and tighter (you hadn't got to it yet prolly?...check page 177 in Prien & Rodeike's book)

Yup, I have already finished that... Actually was a seprate layer and I just forgot to paste it before I took the screens...

- opening for the MK-108 spent casings si missing

Got it...

- fuel tanks filler opening should be just behind the cockpit (it was moved in K-series)

There's some stretching I have to work out to get the opening to look right.

- the horisontal stabilizer was made from wood in K-series (I know this contradics the drawings found in the Lair...and knowing 109 production anything's possible but I'd make them wooden...ie. no rivet lines and those aluminum strips to the leading edges.)

When you get a chance please scan Niska's line drawing. I used the set found over at 109s Lair. I would like to compare the two.

- there's one opening missing from the bottom of the fuselage just behind the wing (on the left side when viewed from the bottom)

Like the fuel filler cap there's quite a bit pf stretching that take space underneath and aft of the wings. I will see what I can work out...

- Opening for the crank of the inertia starter missing

Got it...

- There's a seam missing from the bottom of the rear fuselage running accross it.

Length wise? If so this is another issue with stretching...

- Those ventilator intakes in front of the canopy weren't there anymore in the K-series

Got it...

- according to that photo in the page 177 that cover which is situated near the inertia starter opening on the right side of the cowling which is normally found in K-series seems to be missing!

Can you mark the location on the right profile ss above?

Thanks for the help...

I will post updated SS sometime over the week end...

Wotan

[Bruno]

Update 2:

- fuel tanks filler opening should be just behind the cockpit (it was moved in K-series)

There's 3 opening that run along the top of the fuselage. Due to the stretching   these look terrible unless I move them down onto the sides. But then these look completely out of place. I decided just to adjust the decals instead...

- the horisontal stabilizer was made from wood in K-series (I know this contradics the drawings found in the Lair...and knowing 109 production anything's possible but I'd make them wooden...ie. no rivet lines and those aluminum strips to the leading edges.)

This should be corrected now, let me know if anyhting else needs adjusting..

- there's one opening missing from the bottom of the fuselage just behind the wing (on the left side when viewed from the bottom)

Same as with the fuel cap above. The stretching makes any detail that should run along the top or bottom fuselage impossible.

- There's a seam missing from the bottom of the rear fuselage running accross it.

Same as above - Stretching...

- according to that photo in the page 177 that cover which is situated near the inertia starter opening on the right side of the cowling which is normally found in K-series seems to be missing!

This cap is there all though its undersized due to stretching as well. I could drop the double rivet line right below it down a bit the slide this cap down and make it 'normal size' but it looks out of place. I decided to undersize to get it close to where it should be.

Any thing else you spot or don't like let me know and I will see what I can do.

I think I will do a JG27 K-4 next, then I will do some G-6s (7./JG53 w/ the personalized emblems and one other G-6 maybe JG5...)

I wanted to do a SG3 190F-8 (Kurland '44 - '45) but can't find any clear images.

[Wmaker]

Sorry for not responding!

Been moving the whole last weekend...I'm 160km away from my scanner right now. I can't get the drawing scanned until next sunday.

Looking good all the way btw! But if you can hold the submission until I can get the drawing to you you'll see the wooden tail aswell.

By all black crosses I meant solid narrow crosses on the undersides. Check the K-4 section in Prien/Rodeike's book if you have it.

[Bruno]

Originally posted by Wmaker
Sorry for not responding!

Been moving the whole last weekend...I'm 160km away from my scanner right now. I can't get the drawing scanned until next sunday.

Looking good all the way btw! But if you can hold the submission until I can get the drawing to you you'll see the wooden tail aswell.

By all black crosses I meant solid narrow crosses on the undersides. Check the K-4 section in Prien/Rodeike's book if you have it.

I am in no hurry, so when ever you get a chance to scan the drawing it will be fine.

Ok, I see what you mean by narrow black...

[Nomde]

Bruno, looks great

I really like the link you give for the RLM color commentary. I used the following for the emil rgb values RLM Color Chart